The adsorption behavior and dispersion efficiency of sodium lignosulfonate (NaLS) on Al 2 O 3 particles at different pH values were investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy, zeta potential measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and viscosity measurements. The effects of the additives urea, Na 2 SO 4 , and NaCl were tested. At low pH values, NaLS adsorbed on the Al 2 O 3 particles in the form of aggregates and at high pH values as separated single molecules. At pH 3 -11, the adsorption was not affected through addition of urea, ruling out hydrogen bond as a controlling factor. By adding Na 2 SO 4 and NaCl, the main driving force was the synergistic effect of the electrostatic interaction and the metal cation-π interaction at pH < pH IEP (IEP, isoelectric point), whereas the metal cation-π interaction was dominant at pH > pH IEP . The dispersing mechanism was mainly attributed to the steric hindrance (at pH < pH IEP ) and the electrostatic repulsive force (at pH > pH IEP ) owing to the differences in the aggregation state of the adsorbed molecules.